The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-22
MARYLAND MY MARYLAND p
The Letter OF Gen. Johnson to the
Author OF the Song.
EI'otn TIE Baltimore American,


FSota TIE Baltimore American.
Below is given the letter OF Gen Bradley
T. johnson, inviting James r. Randall, the
author of the Confederate war song, Mary
land, Ny Maryland" to visit Richmond
with the Maryland Line at the foundation
of the Lee monument on Oct. %. As the
letter contains spirited account of an in
cident in the history of the Maryland Line,
it viii doubtless interest many persons in
Baltimore:
BALTIMORE Nd Sept Is 1897
Ny Dear R0HddA: The day | first heard
my Maryland" II remember IL well-a bleak
drear. cold, gloomy day at Centreville. 1t was
twenty-six years ago. ! started 70 write and
thank you for it You had done in a breath a
song what / was striving to do with much labor
OF steel. You had breathed the breath of i'm
mortal life into the statehood" Of the State,
and Maryland for the first time became a peo
plea State. ! have told you this, but cannot
repeat il too often. You-more than Cecil
Calvert or John Eager Howard, or any man
who has striven in field or forum for the honor
and glory Of Naryland-have decorated, and
illustrated aud created living spirit of individ-
UalIty in the State, This spirit is the source of
all chyalry, Of all devotion to noble deas-of all
aspirations for right and honor.
want 70 INVOKE your muse again-not to do
anything. for thoughts such as yours, and the
thrill and ring Of such poetry cannot be evoked.
But give you fact and suggestion. AT the
son ordered me to take the First Maryland in,
and without any definite orders where TO go.
Iasked him whichway should move when had
broken their line. He said: THAT way" swing
ing bis right arm at full length from him. The
direction, l afterward found, was behind Nc
Clellan's left.
Anyhow. pushed forward toward the place
where there was the hottest of the firing and
pressed right into the smoke. / found Fed
eral six gun battery about 900 yards in front,
and Federal line of battle in front of the bat
terry in roadway cut into the ground, which
afforded them perfect protection The fire
every instant was heavy, more trying. On my
right the troops came tearing back in the smoke
and cleaning tit was just about slndown); on
my left the line lay on the ground and began
firing Ny own line began TO tremble, the men
to stumble and catch their toes in the ground
and in a moment they would have broken---Shot
and shell screaming over them and musket balls
knocking a out every minute \ sprang
out in front Of the line, gave the order: Halt
Attention On the centre dress" and then put
them through the manual of arms. 1t was
such relief that they cheered, and at the order
and went over the Federal line and battery
without firing shot.
The Maryland Line have adopted the pansy--
pensez n nloi-as their emblem The Calvert
black and orange make it appropriate, and We
will fix the pansy as the Confederate flower.
The Maryland Line will attend the foundation
of the Lee monument at Richmond Oct "a. and
have directed me TO invite you to accompany
them as their guest. They have invited Gen
Joe Johnston. Wade Hampton, ex-Gov. H. L.
Thompson, of South Carolina, and yourself as
their guests, and tender you escort on that oc-
casion.
It will be pride and pleasure to us to have
You OF that occasion, my dear Randall, and you
must arrange to come here and go with us or
meet us there. We leave Union station at 1870
p. NJ, Oct. 26. Let me hear from you
Yours truly, BRADLEY T. JOHNSON.
Mr.. Randall has accepted the invitation,
and will go down to Richmond with the
Maryland Line on the night of the 26th.